Bolaji To Battle Others At National Para-Badminton Championship In Abia
2024 Paris Paralympic bronze Medalist, Eniola Bolaji will battle it out with 119 para-athletes at the fifth Abia National Para-badminton Championship.
Bolaji made history by becoming the first African to win a medal in para-badminton at the Paralympics.
The Abia Commissioner for Sports, and Youth Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba confirmed that the state has put all necessary measures in place to host a successful competition.
Mr Ananaba said the facilities had been provided at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, venue of the event taking place between 12 and 18 July.
He said that the competition would also be used to test-run the Abia Para-badminton International Championship (billed to take place from 30 September to 5 October) and the All Africa Para-badminton Championships (7-12 October).
He expressed gratitude to the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) for giving Abia the hosting right and Governor Alex Otti for his support for sports development in the state, as he promised in his manifesto.
In a remark, the Event Director, BCA, Faadil Sayed, who was around to assess the level of preparedness for the competition, hailed the state for its commitment towards ensuring a successful event.
He said: “The tournaments coming up are not just events – they are statements.
“They say Nigeria is ready. West Africa is ready. And Para-badminton is here to stay.
“We are not just preparing for a championship – we are preparing a platform for talents’ visibility and lasting impact.
“Let’s support it, celebrate it, and ensure that this legacy continues well beyond 2025.”
The National Coordinator, Para Badminton Association of Nigeria, Samuel Ekeoma, said that para-athletes, drawn from 16 states of the federation, would be contesting in six categories.
Mr Ekeoma, a member of the Local Organising Committee, commended the governor for sustaining the tempo of promoting para-badminton not just in Nigeria but also in Africa.
“It is only Abia that has been hosting para-badminton championship in Nigeria, since the inception of this competition,” he said.
Bolaji is the first African to medal in the sport at either Olympics or Paralympics, winning Bronze in the women’s SL3 singles at the Games in Paris.
She is ranked 3rd in the world in the Sl3 Category by the Para World Badminton Federation.Bolaji To Battle Other Badminton Players At National Para-badminton Championship
The Whistler
2024 Paris Paralympic bronze Medalist, Eniola Bolaji will battle it out with 119 para-athletes at the fifth Abia National Para-badminton Championship.
Bolaji made history by becoming the first African to win a medal in para-badminton at the Paralympics.
The Abia Commissioner for Sports, and Youth Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba confirmed that the state has put all necessary measures in place to host a successful competition.
Mr Ananaba said the facilities had been provided at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, venue of the event taking place between 12 and 18 July.
He said that the competition would also be used to test-run the Abia Para-badminton International Championship (billed to take place from 30 September to 5 October) and the All Africa Para-badminton Championships (7-12 October).
He expressed gratitude to the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) for giving Abia the hosting right and Governor Alex Otti for his support for sports development in the state, as he promised in his manifesto.
In a remark, the Event Director, BCA, Faadil Sayed, who was around to assess the level of preparedness for the competition, hailed the state for its commitment towards ensuring a successful event.
He said: “The tournaments coming up are not just events – they are statements.
“They say Nigeria is ready. West Africa is ready. And Para-badminton is here to stay.
“We are not just preparing for a championship – we are preparing a platform for talents’ visibility and lasting impact.
“Let’s support it, celebrate it, and ensure that this legacy continues well beyond 2025.”
The National Coordinator, Para Badminton Association of Nigeria, Samuel Ekeoma, said that para-athletes, drawn from 16 states of the federation, would be contesting in six categories.
Mr Ekeoma, a member of the Local Organising Committee, commended the governor for sustaining the tempo of promoting para-badminton not just in Nigeria but also in Africa.
“It is only Abia that has been hosting para-badminton championship in Nigeria, since the inception of this competition,” he said.
Bolaji is the first African to medal in the sport at either Olympics or Paralympics, winning Bronze in the women’s SL3 singles at the Games in Paris.
She is ranked 3rd in the world in the Sl3 Category by the Para World Badminton Federation.
2024 Paris Paralympic bronze Medalist, Eniola Bolaji will battle it out with 119 para-athletes at the fifth Abia National Para-badminton Championship.
Bolaji made history by becoming the first African to win a medal in para-badminton at the Paralympics.
The Abia Commissioner for Sports, and Youth Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba confirmed that the state has put all necessary measures in place to host a successful competition.
Mr Ananaba said the facilities had been provided at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, venue of the event taking place between 12 and 18 July.
He said that the competition would also be used to test-run the Abia Para-badminton International Championship (billed to take place from 30 September to 5 October) and the All Africa Para-badminton Championships (7-12 October).
He expressed gratitude to the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) for giving Abia the hosting right and Governor Alex Otti for his support for sports development in the state, as he promised in his manifesto.
In a remark, the Event Director, BCA, Faadil Sayed, who was around to assess the level of preparedness for the competition, hailed the state for its commitment towards ensuring a successful event.
He said: “The tournaments coming up are not just events – they are statements.
“They say Nigeria is ready. West Africa is ready. And Para-badminton is here to stay.
“We are not just preparing for a championship – we are preparing a platform for talents’ visibility and lasting impact.
“Let’s support it, celebrate it, and ensure that this legacy continues well beyond 2025.”
The National Coordinator, Para Badminton Association of Nigeria, Samuel Ekeoma, said that para-athletes, drawn from 16 states of the federation, would be contesting in six categories.
Mr Ekeoma, a member of the Local Organising Committee, commended the governor for sustaining the tempo of promoting para-badminton not just in Nigeria but also in Africa.
“It is only Abia that has been hosting para-badminton championship in Nigeria, since the inception of this competition,” he said.
Bolaji is the first African to medal in the sport at either Olympics or Paralympics, winning Bronze in the women’s SL3 singles at the Games in Paris.
She is ranked 3rd in the world in the Sl3 Category by the Para World Badminton Federation.
Bolaji To Battle Others At National Para-Badminton Championship In Abia is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
